Punch



July 26, 1932. w, F, MILL 5R 1,869,073

PUNCH Filed Oct. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 1932- w. F. MILLER 1,869,073

PUNCH Filed Oct. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM F. MILLER, or MlTAlVfI, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR T0 RELLIM PANY, or MIAMI, FLORIDA INVESTMENT 00M- runcn One of the objects of the invention is to 7 provide a device of this character, including differential punches designed to cooperate with passageways in a guide portion or plate and die portion or plate; the shape 'of the punches being such as to allow either one of the same to be easily driven through its guideways, and the sheet, when the punch is struck with sufficient force.

A further object is to furnish a gang punch including novel means for normally retaining the punches in their respective passageways in the guide and die portions or plates, so that any punch will be instantly available whenit is desired to use the same.

A still further object is to provide a punch of the type mentioned, with improved gauging means or adjustable stop pins to enable a Work sheet to be properly arranged in the device to facilitate uniformity in the successive punching of sheets or the like.

A still further object is to furnish a gang punch including a base, a die portion or plate and a guide portion or plate, combined with connecting means which permits the die and guide plate portions to be turned on the base,

or to be locked to the latter'when necessary or desirable; such connecting means preferably also forming a handle to facilitate the manipulation and transportation of the device.

Another object is to provide a gang punch of this character, in which said combined connectingmeans and handle also forms a device for securing a protecting hood in place; the hood being designed to protect the parts against dust, moisture and the like, and to prevent unauthorized persons from disturbing or removing punch pins, gauging i etc.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in viewwhich will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a preferred form of my device.

Fig. 2 is a diametrical vertical sectional View of the. same, partly inelevation, and shown provided with a cover or hood.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the base plate of the same. I

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the'die plate.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the guide plate shown in inverted position.

Fig. Gisadetail sectional view of a modification. V V

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 1 designates a base,

2 a die portion or plate, and 3 a guide portion or plate of my improved gang punch.

.These parts are formed of suitable metal,

and they are preferably of circular disk shape.

I The base, in this form of the invention, is 1mperforate,-'\vith the exception of a centrally disposed vertical 5 on the lower end portion of the shank 6 of an element that forms a journal shaft for the plates 2 and 3, means for securely fastening said plates to the base 1, and means to facilitate the lifting of the entire device. This element has an annular shoulder 7 designed, when necessary, to bear against the .top of the guide plate 3, and it also has a loop handle 8. When the handle is turned tos crew the threads 5 tightly into the thread ed aperture 4, the plates 2 and 3 will be rigidly connected to the base plate, and when the handle is turned a suflicient degree in the opposite direction, the plates 2 and 3 may readily rotate .on the shank 6. l/Vhether the locking element is in such position to either prevent or allowthe rotation of the disks 2 and 3, the loop handle 8 will permit the screw-threaded aperture 4, which cooperates with threads as three screws 12, located at the central portions of the plates.

The boss 11 acts to space the main portion of the guide plate from the die plate, and:

provides an annular groove or recess 13 into which a sheet may be inserted for the purpose of cutting disks, washers or the like, from the work sheet.

To insure proper gauging or placement of the work sheet, the guide plate is provided with a multiplicity of vertical apertures 14, positioned at various points relatively to the axis of the disk and adapted to receive two or more gauging pins 15 that have handles 16 at their upper ends. These pins areof such length as to pass through the gauging apertures and to rest on the upper surface of the die plate 2. In such position, they obstruct the recess 13, and consequently, when the work sheet is inserted, its edge can contact with the gauge pins so as to insure proper placement of the work sheet for the punching operation.

Punch pins 17 of varying sizes fit in corresponding guideways 18 and 19 of the guide plate and die plate, and each punch pin is of difierential form, i. e., it has a lower portion of the same diameter as the guideways 18 and 19, but its upper portion is of slightly smaller diameter, as shown at 20, so that each punch pin, after it has punctured the work sheet, will readily drop through the guideways 18 and 19, and there will be no liability of a punch pin jamming in the plates 2 and 3. At this point it will be noted that the distance between the shoulder 21 (which separates the larger diameter from the smaller diameter), and the lower end- 22 of each punch pin is substantially equal to the thickness of the guide plate 3 at the central portion of the latter, so that the punch. pin will be effectively guided by the guideway 18 while a punching operation is taking place.

Normally, the lower ends of the punch pins ride or slide on the upper surface of the base plate 1, but to permit a punch pin to be driven through, the base plate is preferably provided with a radial gateway 23 that is normally closed by a radially sliding gate 24 having a handle 25.

When it is desired to punch a metal sheet or the like, the plates 2 and 3 are turned on the shaft or shank 6 to bring the punch pin of the desired size over the gate 24. Then the gauge pins 15 are set in the proper apertures 14, and the work sheet is introduced into the recess 13, until its edge abuts against the gauge pins. Of course, the punch pin 17 that is to be used, must be raised before the sheet can be inserted. After the sheet has been inserted, the gate 24 is opened, and now, when the head of the selected punch pin is struck with a hammer or the like, the punch pin will force its way through the work sheet and press a disk from the sheet through the guideway 19 of the die plate 2.

If it is desired to punch a washer by means of the device, the sheet is first punched by a smaller punchpin, and afterwards, at the same location, by a larger punch pin, so that the second part punched from. the sheet will be of annular shape.

Instead of using a base plate for the purpose of preventing the punch pins from dropping through the guideways, each punch pinv may be provided with its own friction lock. For instance, as shown in Fig. 6, the guide plate 3a may have at each point where a punch pin is located, a spring 36, and a ball 30 which is forced against the punch pin 17a by the spring, to normally hold the punch pin in position. Of course, such friction lock will allow the punch pin to move upwardly or downwardly when sufficient force is exerted on the pin to overcome the restraining effect of the latch;

Regardless of the means used for preventing the punch pins from dropping out of their guideways, the die plate and guide plate may be locked in any desired position by some suitable means, such as theelement having the handle 8, and' as before stated, such handle will allow the device to be readily moved from place to place, which is advantageous, in view of the fact that the metal plates are quite heavy.

The element having the handle 8 also performs another function, that is, it acts to lock a hood 30 in place, as shown in Fig. 2. This hood is preferably of inverted cup shape and is provided at its central portion with an elongated slot 31 through which the handle may be threaded in placing the hood on the device in such a way that its lower edge rests on the upper surface of the base 1. After the hood has been placed on the device in this manner, the handle 8 is turned 90 degrees so as to bring the flat under surface 32 of the handle across the slot 31, and into engagement with the top of the hood. When the hood is in position, it will protect the parts from dust and moisture, and will prevent the punch pins 17 or gauge pins 15 and I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A gang punch comprising a die portion, a guide portion superposed on the same and fixedly spaced from the latter, guideways in said portions, punch pins slidably mounted in said guideways, the guide portion being provided with a multiplicity of gauge apertures, and gauge pins extending through said apertures obstructing the space between said portions and having their lower ends resting on the die portion, and heads for the gauge pins projecting above said guide portion.

2. In a gang punch, a die portion, a guide portion superposed on the same, guideways in said portions, punch pins cooperating with said guideways, a member arranged on the under side of the die portion, a bolt having threaded engagement with said member and on which said portions rotate, and a carrying handle for said bolt arranged at the upper end of the same.

3. In a gang punch or the like, a die portion, a guide portion superposed on the same, guideways in said portions, punch pins cooperating with said guideways, a member arranged on the under side of the die portion,-

a bolt having threaded engagement with said member, a handle for said bolt, a protecting hood having a slot through which the handle may be threaded, and an abutment surface on the bolt adapted to engage the hood for holding the latter in position.

4. In a gang punch,-a die portion, a guide portion superposed on the same, guideways in said portions, punch pins cooperating with said guideways, a base on which the portions rotate, a gateway in said base, and a gate movably mounted on the base for closing said gateway, and having its upper surface in the same plane as the upper surface of the base.

5. A portable gang punch comprising a base, a bolt having its lower end screwed into the base and its upper end provided with a carrying handle, superposed die and guide plates rotatably mounted on the bolt and resting on the base, the major portions of the plates being spaced apart by an annular recess, guide apertures in the plates arranged at opposite sides of the recess, punch pins 00- operating with said guide apertures and adapted to pass through the latter, a gate way in the base, and a'slidable cover for said gateway having its upper surface flush with the upper surface of the base and over which the punch pins travel when said plates are rotated.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

WILLIAM F. MILLER. 

